Panfilo Lacson
Panfilo Lacson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Official portrait, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office September 8, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Jinggoy Estrada | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senator of the Philippines | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office June 30, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office December 10, 2013 – February 10, 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President | Benigno Aquino III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief of the Philippine National Police | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office November 16, 1999 – January 20, 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President | Joseph Estrada Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Edmundo Larroza | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Leandro Mendoza | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Panfilo Morena Lacson June 1, 1948 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Party | Independent (2004–2021; 2022–present) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other political affiliations | Reporma (2021–2022) LDP (2001–2004) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Alice de Perio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Philippine Military Academy (BS) Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (MPA) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | Official website | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Military service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Branch/service | Philippine Constabulary | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years of service | 1971–1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commands |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Police career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service | Philippine Constabulary Philippine National Police | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Division |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Police office | Laguna Provincial Police | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service years | 1991–2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | Director General | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Panfilo "Ping" Morena Lacson Sr. (Tagalog pronunciation: [ˈlakson]; born June 1, 1948) is a Filipino politician and former police officer who has served as a senator of the Philippines since 2025 and president pro tempore since September 8, 2025. He previously served as a senator from 2001 to 2013 and from 2016 to 2022. Lacson is also a former police general who served as director general of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from 1999 to 2001. He was a candidate in the 2004 and 2022 Philippine presidential elections.
During his tenure as the chief of the PNP, he was known for instituting various reforms within the organization. Despite some controversies, his high approval rating and high-profile anti-corruption campaigns were key to his Senate bid in 2001, where he won and placed tenth in the elections. In January 2001, Lacson's withdrawal of police support for President Joseph Estrada was critical to Estrada's ouster in EDSA II. However, after Estrada was arrested on April 25, 2001, Lacson was among the politicians who spoke against his removal from office at pro-Estrada rallies that preceded the May 1 riots near Malacañang Palace. He ran for the presidency in 2004 but lost, though he continued to serve as senator until 2007. He won another six-year term in 2007.
After his first two terms in the Senate, Lacson was appointed by then-President Benigno Aquino III as Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery in December 2013. He led the management and rehabilitation efforts of the central provinces in the Philippines affected by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). In the 2016 elections, Lacson ran for senator and won, ranking fourth in the said elections.
Lacson made another attempt for the presidency of the Philippines during the 2022 Philippine presidential election, where he placed fifth, losing to Bongbong Marcos. After the election, Lacson said he would contribute to food security through an agri-aqua business.
Lacson's career in law enforcement became the basis of two local action films: Task Force Habagat (1993) and Ping Lacson: Super Cop (2000).